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Is there a language of terrorists? A comparative manifesto analysis

Abstract:
Previous research has shown that identity fusion can motivate violent self-sacrifice when the group is threatened. In this study we conducted an ethnographic content analysis of fifteen manifestos – expressing varied levels of extremism – to examine whether fusion and other relevant variables can be reliably identified and if the predictions of the fusion-plus-threat model are supported. Our findings indicate that linguistic proxies for identity fusion combined with mediating and moderating variables such as existential threat narratives, violence-condoning group norms and dehumanizing vocabulary, can be reliably identified and are more prevalent in the documents of would-be terrorists. This method may contribute to predicting the likelihood that individuals will engage in acts of violent extremism.
Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

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Publisher copy:
10.1080/1057610X.2022.2109244

Authors


More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
SSD
Department:
SAME
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0002-1922-1204
More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
SSD
Department:
SAME
Role:
Author
More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
SSD
Department:
SAME
Role:
Author


More from this funder
Funder identifier:
https://ror.org/00k4n6c32
Grant:
694986
More from this funder
Funder identifier:
https://ror.org/03n0ht308
Grant:
ES/I005455/1


Publisher:
Routledge
Journal:
Studies in Conflict and Terrorism More from this journal
Volume:
48
Issue:
6
Pages:
601–628
Publication date:
2022-08-09
Acceptance date:
2022-07-27
DOI:
EISSN:
1521-0731
ISSN:
1057-610X


Language:
English
Keywords:
Pubs id:
1273134
Local pid:
pubs:1273134
Deposit date:
2022-08-09

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